Editor’s note: Every NFL team is preparing to attack its offseason to-do list, with free agency set to open March 12 and the draft April 25-27. This is the third of 32 reports in 32 days by Sporting News NFL correspondents, who will analyze the offseason game plan for each team.

PHILADELPHIA—Radical change is imminent for the Eagles after a two-year decline that resulted in consecutive seasons out of the playoffs, the firing of longtime coach Andy Reid and the hiring of Chip Kelly to lead the franchise into the future.

Kelly must not only rid the roster of several underperforming starters who facilitated the team’s quick descent from Super Bowl contender to NFC East doormat but also change the culture of a locker room that had become toxic and complacent.

To start fresh, Kelly and the front office will likely turn over a good chunk of the roster and prepare for a transition season in 2013 as they rebuild the foundation.

Key departures

Don’t be shocked to see cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, among others, sent packing as the team continues to part ways with the poster players for their downward spiral—a trend that started with the in-season release of Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin. Those two are under contract but each underperformed and are on the downsides of their careers.

The only A-list free agent worth keeping is cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who also hasn’t fulfilled his potential since coming over in a trade with the Cardinals two years ago. Rodgers-Cromartie has tremendous talent and tools but constantly needs to be challenged and pushed, a responsibility that Kelly might not want to undertake in his first year.

The team could put the franchise tag on Rodgers-Cromartie to see if he can thrive under Kelly’s watch without making a long-term commitment.

Needs/targets

1. Nose tackle. All of Kelly’s moves so far suggest that he’s scrapping the team’s longtime 4-3 scheme in favor of the 3-4 that he employed at Oregon. Most 3-4 defenses are anchored by a meaty nose tackle who weighs in the neighborhood of 330 pounds and can take on two offensive linemen every snap. The Eagles don’t have a player like that, and Pro Bowl nose tackles don’t grow on trees, so there won’t be many starting-caliber NTs on the market. With the fourth overall pick in the draft, the team could be primed to draft Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, a 320-pound All-American interior tackle.

2. Quarterback. The guess here is that Vick won’t be the starter in 2013, but even if he is, Kelly probably has an eye toward 2014 and beyond. Look for the team to sign Dennis Dixon, who spent 2012 on the Ravens’ practice squad, to add depth. Dixon was a star quarterback in Kelly’s up-tempo spread system at Oregon before suffering a knee injury that derailed his Heisman campaign. Alex Smith, who ran a spread offense in college, could be another target if the 49ers are willing to deal or release him.

Kelly met with all of the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, but the one who stood out was Florida State’s E.J. Manuel. The dual-threat QB was a high-percentage passer for the Seminoles and has the athleticism to run the zone-read scheme that Kelly employed at Oregon and will adapt in some variation to the NFL. It’s very possible that Kelly’s franchise cornerstone QB will still be in college this year, as several Kelly-type QBs (Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, Braxton Miller) are not eligible for this year’s draft.

3. Cornerback. It seems unlikely that both Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie will return, and it’s possible that neither comes back. There could be some good options in free agency if the Dolphins don’t re-sign Sean Smith and if the Falcons continue to stall in talks with Brent Grimes, who had his 2012 truncated by an injury that may have lowered his price tag. Derek Cox (Jacksonville) and Cary Williams (Ravens) are also solid options if they reach the open market. Alabama’s Dee Milliner, a projected top-10 pick, could be worth the fourth overall pick.

4. Safety. Continuing with the theme of blowing up the secondary, the Eagles almost certainly will look to upgrade from Kurt Coleman and may have to give up on Nate Allen, a 2010 second-round pick who showed promise as a rookie but hasn’t been the same since coming back from major knee surgery. Ed Reed (Ravens), a future Hall of Famer and potential free agent, would bring leadership to the locker room. Dashon Goldson (49ers) would be a great fit and bring a level of toughness the Eagles have lacked in the secondary. In the draft, Texas’ Kenny Vaccaro or Florida’s Matt Elam aren’t worth the fourth overall pick, but if either slides into the second round, the Eagles will be hard-pressed not to draft him.

5. Tight end. The Eagles will need more interior pass-catching options to run Kelly’s spread attack. Veteran Brent Celek is an above-average pass catcher but lacks the vertical-strike ability of a typical spread tight end. Same goes for backup Clay Harbor. Free agent-to-be Jared Cook (Titans) has underperformed but could flourish in Kelly’ pass-happy offense. Dustin Keller (Jets) played in a spread offense in college and could fit into the Eagles’ new scheme. Stanford’s Zach Ertz and Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert could step in immediately if drafted.

Mosher’s take

The Eagles have no choice but to be aggressive in turning over their roster and plotting the course for the future under Kelly. That probably means cutting a big chunk of veterans and replenishing the roster with draft picks and young free agents who are willing to buy into the new coach’s system—dramatic roster changes that will hamper the Eagles’ ability to be Super Bowl contenders in 2013.

But it’s important that they find the right building blocks for their next foundation and develop together as the organization moves toward forging a new identity.